After the hustle and bustle of Christmas cooking, it is nice to have fun in the kitchen with new recipes. It is essential in Asian cooking to have all the ingredients prepared and sitting on the countertop ready to be added as needed. This is called mise en place. Substitutions are perfectly fine. Use what […] Read more
Tag Archives recipes
Food traditions make for emotional family memories
My children are all grown up, but they still expect certain things over the holidays. Most important is food that has become traditions. Holiday recipes are emotional, evoke memories, deliver taste and provide visual satisfaction with vibrant colours such as glistening red. The regularly requested recipes often contain seasonal food such as cranberries, cherries, orange, […] Read more
Christmas around the world offers up new recipes to try
The Christmas season is a favourite travel time for many. Traditions and food vary, of course, making it even more interesting. For example, countries in Europe, Latin America and South Africa have the big feast on Christmas Eve. Serving the big dinner on Christmas Day is mainly a North American tradition. Oranges at Christmas time […] Read more
Fruity Christmas traditions make for lasting memories
Christmas desserts in my childhood home always had two fruity treats — Christmas pudding and mince tarts. The warm, fruity pudding was a must as far as my dad was concerned. He could hardly wait to get the main course over so we could enjoy the Christmas pudding with lots of rich vanilla sauce. Both […] Read more
Pumpkin and squash can be turned into variety of dishes
Squash and pumpkins can be used to make a variety of dishes, which will be particularly welcome as Christmas arrives. Pumpkin scones Use your pre-made puree to whip up these delicious scones. Makes eight scones. Scones Glaze Preheat oven to 400 F (204 C). Lightly grease baking sheet or line with parchment paper. In large […] Read more
Come in from the cold to a menu that warms the insides
I love this time of year in the kitchen. There is more time for cooking because the outside work is done and we can spend time indoors, on a yard work sabbatical. With cooler temperatures, we crave warming menus that offer flavour and sweets that deliver sugar and spice. Over the years of doing this […] Read more
Appetizers make Christmas entertaining more informal
Informal entertaining has taken over from the painstaking dinner parties I have always hosted. Now it is usually happy hour and most often it is potluck. There is enough stress in the holiday season already. Make entertaining easy. Simple cheese and fruit plate There is no need to make it complicated. A few simple, good […] Read more
Spice up Christmas cookie exchange with Advent calendar
Cookies are a delicious Christmas tradition, but they weren’t always a Christmas thing. Families were not leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus until the 1930s. In those difficult times, parents wanted to show the children a kinder way. And thanks to Queen Victoria, gingerbread cookies became associated with Christmas. Christmas cookies are small bites […] Read more
Fall a good time to enhance menus with seasonal foods
My kids are all grown up, but I still have fun sharing the excitement of this spooky season. It’s a time when children can transform themselves into their favourite character, and for a day or two they are immersed in an imaginary life. With my own kids, I remember after every country stop the almost […] Read more
Apples are great for cooking, but choose the correct one
There are more than 100 varieties and cultivars of apples grown in Canada. Those that originated in Canada are the McIntosh, Ambrosia and Spartan. With so many choices, how does one decide which one is best for your intended use? The best apples to store long-term have thick skin and tend to be crisp and […] Read more
